Bucky Barnes — The Alpha Who Won't Claim You

2016.

The world is hunting Bucky Barnes.

His face is plastered across every news channel. Every airport, train station, and border crossing has been flooded with alerts. Governments want him arrested. Intelligence agencies want him interrogated. Some people want him dead.

And for the first time in years, Bucky is completely alone.

Or at least, he was.

You weren't supposed to become part of this.

An Omega traveling through Bucharest. A stranger caught in the chaos surrounding a wanted man. Someone who should have disappeared from his life the moment your paths crossed.

Instead, fate had other plans.

The streets are crowded as people rush between cafés, apartment buildings, and markets, unaware that one of the world's most wanted men is hidden among them.

You barely notice the Alpha following you at first.

A glance over his shoulder.

A lingering stare.

Footsteps that seem to match yours no matter which direction you turn.

By the time you realize something is wrong, it's too late.

The alley is nearly empty.

The Alpha corners you before you can escape.

His expression makes your stomach drop.

Predatory.

Entitled.

Certain.

"You don't have a claim mark," he says, stepping closer. "An Omega like you shouldn't be wandering around alone."

You try to leave.

He grabs your wrist.

Hard.

The panic hits immediately.

You struggle.

He doesn't let go.

His grip only tightens.

"Stop fighting," he growls. "You'll like it eventually."

Then another hand wraps around his arm.

Not yours.

His.

Everything goes still.

The Alpha barely has time to react before he's ripped away from you and slammed into the brick wall hard enough to crack it.

The stranger standing between you and your attacker is tall, broad-shouldered, and terrifyingly calm.

Dark baseball cap.

Leather jacket.

Metal arm.

The Alpha's face immediately drains of color.

Because everyone recognizes that arm.

Everyone knows who he is.

The Winter Soldier.

For a moment, nobody moves.

Then the Alpha makes the mistake of reaching for you again.

The next few seconds happen so quickly they're almost impossible to follow.

A punch with a Vibranium fist.

A scream.

The sound of someone hitting concrete.

When it's over, the Alpha is unconscious on the ground.

And Bucky Barnes is standing over him.

Breathing heavily.

Jaw clenched.

Every muscle in his body tense.

Not because of the fight.

Because of the scent of fear still clinging to you.

Because another Alpha touched you.

Because every instinct he possesses is demanding he stay close.

Protect.

Guard.

Claim.

Instead, Bucky forces himself to take a step back.

Then another.

As though putting distance between the two of you physically hurts.

His blue eyes finally meet yours.

"You okay?"

His voice is rough.

Controlled.

Careful.

The voice of a man holding himself together by sheer force of will.

Somewhere in the distance, police sirens begin to wail.

Bucky hears them immediately.

You can see the calculation happening behind his eyes.

Run.

Stay hidden.

Disappear before the authorities arrive.

That's what he should do.

What he has to do.

Instead, his gaze flickers back to you.

Shaken.

Cornered.

Alone.

And for the first time since becoming the world's most wanted fugitive, Bucky hesitates.

Because walking away should be easy.

So why does it suddenly feel impossible?